Combination air control and ash removal apparatus for grate fired furnaces



Jan. 6, 1953 o. w. HONSINGER 2,624,300

COMBINATION AIR CONTROL AND ASH REMOVAL APPARATUS FOR GRATE FIRED FURNACES Filed Sept. 27. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Elli 5 0 0 4 5 6 4 /A////// 1/ 227 747 H 7. H 4 o 3 l I (Ittomeg Jan. 6, 1953 o. w. HONSINGER 2,624,300

COMBINATION AIR CONTROL AND ASH REMOVAL APPARATUS FOR GRATE FIRED FURNACES Filed Sept. 27. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIII Gttorneg Jan. 6, 1953 o. w. HONSINGER 0 COMBINATION U R CONTROL AND ASH REMOVAL APPARATUS FOP. GRATEJ FIRED FURNACES 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed Sept. 27. 1949 Gnomeg Jan. 6, 1953 o. w. HONSINGER COMBINATION AIR CONTROL AND ASH REMOVAL APPARATUS FOR GRATE FIRED FURNACES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 27. 1949 3 me n tor Ola/ER M Haw/N602 (Iltomeg xxs Patented Jan. 6, 1953 COMBINATION AIR CONTRGL ASH .RE-

.MOYVAL APPARATUS FOR GRATE FIRED FURNACES Oliver William 'Honsinger, Saint Catharines, ntario, Canada, 'assignor to Foster WheelerCorporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation o'f New York Application September 27, 1949, Serial No..118,127

13 Claims. -1

'This invention relates to furnaces and more particularly to grate type furnaces.

The present invention provides a grate type furnace which is fired with "solid fuel and which 'hasaplurality of separate longitudinally extending laterally adjacent grate sections upon which said 'fuelis'burned. The grate sections aredisposed'above'laterally adjacent and separatedash pits. The furnace receives air for combustion from .a plurality of damper controlled air inlets .beneath .the grate sections which inlets communicate with theashpits ataposition'in spaced relationship with the bottom of'thepits. "Louvres are positioned "in the ash pits intermediate the .airinlets and the bottom of the pits, said louvres being so constructed and arranged that the upper portion of the ash pit and the lowerportion thereof are separated from one another when the louvres are in their closed position and ashes dumpedfrom the grate can pass into the lower portion of the pits when the louvres are in their opened position.

The invention will'be understood from the following description when considered in connection I with theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and in which:

Fig. 1 is alongitudinal sectional 'view of the present'invention taken on the line I l of Fig.2 and illustrated in associationwith a vapor gen- .eraton'the lower'portion only ofwhich is shown;

Fig. 215 a transverse sectional view'taken on the line 22 Of Fig. 1;

Fig. sis 'aplan'view taken'on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 but on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional 'VlGW taken on *the line 5-5 of Fig. l but on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 6 is an end view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 and '2, the reference numeral I0 designates the setting of a vapor generator having a rearwardwall H, a front wall I2 spaced therefrom and opposite water wa1l'tubes19 which communicate attheir lower ends with a drum arranged adjacent front wall I2. Vapor"generating-tubes 2| extend adj acent' front wall I, 2 "and are "connected'at their lower ends to drumZO 'A:plurality of grate sections 22, 23, 24" and*25 aredisposed adj'a'centthe'bottom of chamberI-S. The grate sections are separate from one another and separately actuated. 'The sections extend longitudinally of the furnace chamber M from 'agp'oint adjacent-front wall I2 to-a "point ,adjacentrearward'wall l l .andare disposedlaterally adjacent one another, each sectioncompris- 'ing a plurality of tuyres"2'6. The tuy'res of 'each grate section are associated with a longitudinal dumping bar .21 which is actuated through an actuating rod 28bydumping mechanism29. Separate dumping .mechanisms '29 and actuating rods '28 are associated with each of "the grate sections so that they may be dumped independently of one another.

As shown, fuel is fed upon grate sections "22, i2.3,24 and 25 by a spreader stoker 3.0 which receivessaid fuel "from a chute '3 I.

.A plurality of vertically extending elongated .ash pits 32,33, 34 and 35 are'positioned beneath grate .-sections.22,"23,24 and 25 respectively. Ash

pit}!.isseparatedfrompit 33 by'verticalwall 36, whileas'hpits33 and'34 are'separated by'wall'31 iandpits S landffifi are separated by wall38. Walls .38, T31 andi38 extend upwardly to a'point closely adjacent thegrate sections, the jgratesections being mounted on the top of said walls.

. Louvres 39 are disposed in each of the ash pits verticallydntermediatethe top and bottomith'ere- .o'f therebydividing 'the.as'h;pits into upperpor- ,portions 3.2f, 3'3", 3'4" and 35 respectively.

Eachlouvre hasa dampermember 40 adapted to separate said upper and .lower portions of "the ashnpit when the damper members 'are in'closed position. As shown inFigs. 3 to 5,the louvres'of each ash pit comprise longitudinal rectangular .openings (bounded by uebeam frames supported .in the ash'pit's on'shoulders 4| and 42 along the opposite sides :of the pits. *Each frame has I opposite side members "43 and M "and opposite end members .45 and 48. -LA-damper member-actuating shaft 4], :having "a :tubular member "48 mounted thereover in engaging relationship and .secured't'hereto .by pin '49 so that said tubular member willbe'rotatable' with said shaft,'extends through longitudinally adjacent louvres'39 substantially centrally between opposite "side walls "4'3 and 4! of the louvres. Shaft "41 andtubular member 48 are'rotatable'inrespect tothelouvres .cally opposed points.

surface of said tubular member (Fig.

and front wall 59 and rear wall 5| of the ash pits. Shaft 41 has a squared end 52 extending outwardly of front wall 50 of the ash pit and a crank 53 is mounted on the squared end so that the shaft may be turned by the crank. As shown in Fig. 6, the squared end 52 has a detent 55 mounted thereon which detent cooperates With a pawl 54 so that the shaft may be rotated to a predetermined position in one direction and locked in that position against movement in the opposite direction.

Damper members 40, as shown more particularly in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, each comprise three sets of closure plates 56, 51 and 58 mounted on the tubular member 43 so as to turn therewith. Each set of closure plates comprises a plate 59 extending radially from the tubular member 48 at one side thereof and a plate 60 extending radially from the tubular member at the other side of the tubular member, said plates extending outwardly of tubular member 48 at substantially diametri- Plate 59 has a semi-circular section 5| extending over and engaging the upper peripheral surface of tubular member 48, while plate 60 has a semi-circular section 62 extending over and engaging the lower peripheral A centrally disposed lug 63 projects from semi-circular section 6| on the side thereof opposite that on which plate 59 projects, while a centrally disposed lug 64 likewise projects from section 62. A bolt 65 secures lug 63 to plate 60, while a bolt 66 secures lug 64 to plate 59. Set screws 61 and 68.fasten sections 51 and 62 respectively to tubular member 48. Since plates 59 and 60 are selcured together by bolts 65 and 65 and also are ends of the plates, the adjacent flanges 1| of sets of plates 56 and 51 being so formed as to overlap one another in engaging relationship,

while the adjacent flanges of plate sets 51 and 58 likewise overlap one another. Stops 12 and 13 project inwardly from side members 43 and 44 of the louvre frame, the stop 12, as shown in Fig. 5, being positioned to engage the under surface of plate 59, while the stop 13 is positioned to engage the upper surface of plate 60. These stops thereby limit the counterclockwise movement of the plate sets.

A clean-out opening 15 normally closed by a door 16. is in communication with the lower portion 32" of each ash pit so that ashe may be removed from said lower portion.

An air inlet opening, through which air to support combustion of fuel on a grate section enters, is in communication with the upper portion -'of each ash pit at a point intermediate the grate .section and the louvre.

As shown in Fig. 2, air inlet openings 11, 18, 19 and 89 are in communication with upper portions 32', 33, 34' and 35' .of ash pits 32, 33, 34 and 35. Each opening is at one end of a horizontally extending branch air inlet conduit 8| which is connected at the opposite end with a main air conduit 82. Flow of 'air from openings 11, 18, 19 and '80 is. controlled by dampers 83, 84, 85 and 86 respectively. Each damper is operated by a separate controlling rod 8'' (Fig.1).

In operation, when ashes must be dumped I from the grates, it is desirable that this be done without loss of pressure or load on the vapor generator. With the present invention, this is accomplished by dumping one grate section at a time, for example, grate section 22 could first be cleaned by operating controlling rod 81 so as to actuate damper 83 into a closed position thereby stopping the flow of air into upper portion 32' of ash pit 32. Crank 53 is then turned in a clockwise direction thereby rotating shaft 41, tubular member 48 and damper member 40 in a clockwise direction and into an open position as indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 5. Tuyeres 26 of gratesection 22 are then moved to a dumping position through dumping mechanism 29, actuating rod 28 and dumping bar 21. Ashes will then fall from grate section 22, into upper portion 32' of ash pit 32 thence through louvres 39 into lower portions 32" of the ash pit. When the ashes have been dumped, the tuyres are returned to the position shown in Fig. 1 by actuation of dumping mechanism 29, crank 53 is moved in a counterclockwise direction thereby turning shaft 41, tubular member 48, and damper members 40 in a counterclockwise direction to their closed position, as shown in full lines, Fig. 5. Air damper actuating rod 81 is then moved so as to turn damper 83 to an open position permitting air to pass through inlet opening 11 into upper portion 32 of ash pit 32. After cleaning grate section 22, grate sections 23, 24 and 25 may be consecutively cleaned in the same way as section 22 hereinbefore described. The order of cleaning the grate sections need not necessarily'be consecutive, such order of cleaning being given by way of example and not by way of limitation.

In this manner, one section of the rates may be cleaned at a time so that one section only is out of service at a time and then for no longer period than is required to dump said grate section because cleaning of the ashes from the lower portion of an ash pit may be done at any time after dumping at the operators convenience. Since the lower portion of an ash pit is separated from the upper portion thereof by closing of the louvre dampers 4! which louvres are closed immediately after dumping of the grates, air to support combustion over a grate section may be permitted to enter the upper section immediately after the closing of the louvres and need not await ash removal from the lower portion of an ash pit;

Inasmuch as changes may be made in the form, location and relative arrangement of the several parts of the apparatus herein disclosed without departing from the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited excepting by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a grate type furnace, a grate comprising a plurality of separate grate sections each section being adapted to dump ashes therefrom, ash pit forming means forming separate ash pits below each grate section, each pit havin an air inlet in communication therewith beneath its grate section, control means for controlling the flow of air through said inlets, damper means in each pit below the air inlet and in spaced relationshipwith the bottom of the pit, said damper means being so positioned in a pit as to separate the pit into an upper portion with which the air inlet is in communication and a lower portion when said damper means is in a closed position and to permit ashes to pass through the upper portion and into the lower portion of the pit when the damper is in an opened position, and actuating means so associated with the damper means as to move said damper 'means into said opened and :closed positions.

2. In a grate type furnace, a grate comprising a plurality of separate sections each section being adapted to dump ashes therefrom, means :for separately actuating each section into andout of dumping position, means forming a separate vash pit beneatheach grate section, each pit having an air inlet in communication therewith ,beneath its-grate section, means i or separately controlling the how of air through "each air inlet into a pit, dampermeans in-each pitbelow theair inlet and inspaced relationship with the bottomof the pit, said damper .being so .positioned'iin-th'e pit 1855 to separate itinto an upper portion with which the air inlet is in communication and-a lower portion when :said damper means is in -aelosed position and ;to :permit ashes to pass through the upper portion and. into the lower portion "when the damper is in .an opened .position, .and separate actuating means operativel'y associated with the damper means in each of the :pitsso as to move one or" the damper means into said opened and. closed positions .independentlyof the separate-actuating means operatively associated with the damper means'of other pits.

3. In .a'grate type furnace, .a grate comprising'a plurality of separate sections each section being adapted to dump .ashes therefrom, .means for separately actuating each section into .and out of dumping position, mcansiorming a separate ash .pitbeneath each. grate section, each'pit -having an air inlet in communication therewith .beneath its grate section, means for separately controlling I the flow of .air through each air lnletinto :a pit, damper means in each pit Joelow the air inlet andin spaced relationship with the bottcmof-the pit, said damper being so positioned ;in the pit as to separate .it into an upper portion with which the air inlet is in communication and a lower portion when said dampermeans is in a closed position and to permitashes to pass 'throughthe upper portion andinto the lower portion -when the damper is in an opened position, and separate actuating means operativelyessociated with the damper means in each of the pits so as to operate one of the damper meansinto said opened and closed positions independently of the separate actuating means operatively associated with thedamper means of other pits, eachcf said pits having an ash removal openin cadjaeentthe bottom .thereof.-

, 4. In a-grate type furnace, aigrate comprising a pluralityof laterally adjacent, separate, longitudinally extending grate sections, each section being adapted to dump ashes therefrom, a plurality of spaced partition walls extending longitudinally along adjacent sides of adjacent grate sections and downwardly to .form separate ash pits below each grate section, each pit having an air inlet in communication therewith beneath its grate section, control means for controlling the flow of air into said inlets, damper means in each pit below the air inlet and in spaced relationshipwith the bottom of the pit,said damper means being so positioned in a'pitasto separate the pitinto an upper portion with Which'the air inlet is in communication and a lower portion when said damper meansis inia closed position and to permit ashes to pass throughthe'upper ortion and into the lower portion when the damper is in an opened :position, .and actuating means so operatively'associated with :the damper means as to operate said damper means into'said opened-and-,closed, positions.

5. In -agrate type furnace, a gratecomprisingi'a plurality of laterally adjacent. separate. longitudinally extending grate sections, each section being adapted to dump ashes therefrom, means for-separately actuatingeach section into and out of dumping position, a pluralityofspaced partition walls extending longitudinally along adjacent sides of adjacent grate sections and vertically downwardly to form a separate ash =p'it beneath each'gratesection, each pit 'having an air inlet in communication th'erewith beneath its grate section, .m-eans for separately controlling the flow of air through each -'air inlet into a pit, damper means ineeach pit below the air inletzand inspaced relationship with the bottom of thepit, said damper being so positioned in the pit :as "to separate :it into an upper portion with which the air inlet :isin communication and a lower portion whensaid damper means is in'a. closed position and to permit "ashes to pass through the upper portion and into'the lower portion when the damper is in an opened position, and separate actuating means operatively associated with the damper'means in each of'the pits as to operate one of the damper means into said opened and closed positions independently of the separate actuating means operatively associated with the damper means of other zpits as to 'op'erate said damper means thereof, each ofsaid pits having an ash removal opening adjacent the bottom thereof.

,6. In a grate type furnace, a grate adapted .to dump ashes therefrom, ash :pit forming means forming an ash pit beneath the grate so *as to receive ashes dumped therefrom, means for "controlling the flow of air into said pit, =a louvre .in the pit below the air inlet :and spaced relationship with the bottom of the pit, said louvre-comprising a irame'having. an opening therethroughysaid frameheingso'arranged in the pit as-to separate the pit into an upper portion and a lower portion which'porti'onscommunicate with-one another through the opening, atlamper so associated with said frame and so disposed in the opening thereof as to separate the upper and lower portions of the *pit when the damper in -a closed position and to permit :as'h'es to pass through the-opening from the upper portion to the .lower portion whenthedamperis in-an-opened position, and actuating means operativ'el-y associated with :the damper :as to operate the damper to open and-close the same. I

7, In a grate'type furnace, :a-grate :adapted to dump ashes therefrom, ash pit forming means forming an ash'pit beneath the grate-sons to receive ashes dumped therefrom, means for con trolling the fiowof air @into said pit, --a louvre in the pit belowthe "air inlet and in spaced relationship with thebottom ofthepitgsaid louvre conk prisinga rectangular-shapedirame having a ree- .tangular-shapedopeningthe frame beingmount edinthe pit and so arranged as to :sep'arate the pit into an upper portion and a lower portion which portions communicate with one another through the opening, 2-2. damper actuating shaft rotatably mounted in respect .towthe frame and passing through the central portion thereof, :a damper mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith, the damper being of such size andshape as to separate'the upper and lower portions-of the pit when the-damper is in a closed position and to permitashes to pass through the opening-from the upper portion to the lower portion when the damper inan opened position, and actuating meansoperatively connected to the shaft so as to rotate said shaft and the damper to open and close the damper.

r 8. In a grate type furnace, a grate comprising a plurality of separate grate sections each section. being adapted to dump ashes therefrom, ash pit forming means forming separate ash pits below each grate section, each pit having an air inlet in communication therewith beneath its grate section, control means for controlling the flow of air through said inlets, louvres in each pit below the air inlet and in spaced relationship with the bottom of the pit, each louvre comprising 9, rectangular-shaped frame having a rectangularshaped opening, the frame being mounted in the pitand so arranged as to separate the pit into an upper portion and a lower portion which portions communicate with on another through the opening, a damper actuating shaft rotatably mounted in respect to the frame and passing through the central portion thereof, a damper mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith, the damper being of such size and shape as to separate the upper .and lower portions of the pit when the damper is in a closed position and to permit ashes to pass through the opening from the upper portion to the lower portion when the damper is in an opened position, and actuating means operatively connected to the shaft so as to rotate said shaft and the damper to open and close the damper.

9. In a grate type furnace, a grate comprising a plurality of laterally adjacent, separate, longitudinally extending grate sections, each section being adapted to dump ashes therefrom, means for separately actuating each section into and out of dumping position, a plurality of spaced partition walls extendin longitudinally along adjacent sides of adjacent grate sections and vertically downwardly to form a separate ash pit beneath each grate section, each pit having an air inlet in communicationtherewith beneath its grate section, means for separately controlling the flow of air through each air inlet into a pit, louvres in each pit below the air inlet and in spaced relationship with the bottom of the pit, the louvre ,of each pit comprising a plurality of rectangularshaped frames having rectangular-shaped openings, the frames being mounted in said pits in a horizontal plane in end-to-end relationship, a damper actuatingshaft extending longitudinally through the frames in the central portion thereof and rotatably mounted in respect to the frames. .damper means mounted on said shaft in each of the frame openings to rotate therewith, the damper means being of such size and shape as to separate the upper and lower portions of the pit when the damper is in a. closed position and to permit ashes to pass through the opening from the upper portion to the lower portion when the damper is in an opened position, and actuating means operatively connected to-each shaft so as to separately rotate each shaft and the damper means mounted thereon to open and close the damper, each of said pits having an ash removal opening adjacent the bottom thereof.

10., In a grate type furnace, a grate comprising a plurality of separate grate sections operable to dump ashes therefrom, means forming a plurality of separate compartments beneath said grate, the compartments being disposed so that at least one of said compartments receives ashes dumped from one of said grate sections and at least another of said compartments receives ashes dumped from another of said sections, the compartments 8 7 each having an air inlet in communication therewith below said grate, control means for controlling the fiow of air through said inlets, damper means positioned below the air inlet of each compartment, said damper means being so constructed and arranged as to prevent flow of air downwardly in a compartment past the damper means when said damper means is in closed position and to permit the passage of ashes downwardly in a compartment past the damper means when said damper means is in opened position, and actuating means operatively associated with the damper means to move said damper means into said opened and closed positions.

11. In a grate type furnace, a grate comprising a plurality of separate grate sections operable to dump ashes therefrom, means for separately actuating said sections into and out of dumping position, means forming a plurality of separate compartments beneath said grate, the compartments being disposed so that at least one of said compartments receives ashes dumped from one of said grate sections and at least another of said compartments receives ashes dumped from another of said sections, the compartments each having an air inlet in communication therewith below said grate, means for separately controlling the flow of air through each'air inlet into a compartment, damper means positioned below the air inlet of each compartment, said damper means bein so constructed and arranged asto prevent flow of air downwardly in a compartment past the damper means when said damper means is in closed position and to permit the passage of ashes downwardly in a compartment past the damper means when said damper means is in opened position, and separate actuating means operatively associated with the damper means in each of the compartments so as to move one of the damper means into said opened and closed positions independently of the separate actuating means operatively associated with the damper means of other compartments.

12. In a grate typefurnace, a grate comprising a plurality of laterally adjacent, separate, longitudinally extending grate sections operable to dump ashes therefrom, means for separately actuating said sections into and out of dumping position, a plurality of spaced partition walls extending longitudinally along adjacent sides of grate sections and downwardly thereby providing side walls for a plurality of separate, longitudinally extending, laterally adjacent compartments beneath said grate, said side walls of the compartments being disposed so that at least one of said compartments receives ashes dumped from one of said grate sections and at least another of said compartments receives ashes dumped from another of said sections, the compartments each having an air inlet in communication therewith below said grate, control means for controlling the flow of air through said inlets, damper means positioned below the air inlet of each compartment, said damper means being so'constructed and arranged as to prevent flow of air downwardly in a compartment past the damper means when said damper means is in closed position and to permit the passage of ashes downwardly ma compartment past the damper means when Sald per means is in opened position, and actuating means operatively associated with the damper means to move said damper means into said opened and closed positions.

13. In a grate type furnace, a grate comprising a plurality of laterally adjacent, separate, longitudinally extending grate sections operable to dump ashes therefrom, means for separately actuating said sections into and out of ump position, a plurality of spaced partition walls extending longitudinally along adjacent sides of grate sections and downwardly thereby providing side walls fOr a plurality of separate, longitudinally extending, laterally adjacent compartments beneath said grate, said side walls of the compartments being disposed so that at least one of said compartments receives ashes dumped from one of said grate sections and at least another of said compartments receive ashes dumped from another of said sections, the compartments each having an air inlet in communication therewith below said grate, means for separately controlling the flow of air through each air inlet into a compartment, damper means positioned below the air inlet of each compartment, said damper means being so constructed and arranged as to prevent flow of air downwardly in a compartment past the damper means when said damper means is in closed position and to permit the passage of ashes downwardly in a compartment past the damper means when said damper means is in opened position, and separate actuating means operatively associated with the damper means in each of the compartments so as to move one of the damper means into said opened and closed 10 positions independently of the separate actuating means operatively associated with the damper means of other compartments.

OLIVER WILLIAM HONSINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 370,142 Holcomb Sept. 20, 1887 558,215 Shindler Apr. 14, 1896 817,989 Robeson et a1. Apr. 17, 1906 967,607 Callaway Aug. 16, 1910 1,251,146 Ward Dec. 25, 1917 1,620,270 Marsh Mar. 8, 1927 1,698,113 Van Brunt Jan. 8, 1929 2,043,719 Telgman June 9, 1936 2,049,976 Riddell Aug. 4, 1936- 2,086,202 Alpern July 6, 1937 2,118,121 Temple May 24, 1938 2,488,689 Smith et al Nov. 22, 1949 2,499,735 Ellis Mar. 7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 236,664 Great Britain July 13, 1925 

